SBC Assawoman Field Trip, 9-20-16, Plans re Weather

UPDATE TUE at 5:45 am:

The field trip is a GO. Looks like we will have some showers, but no persistent heavy rain.  So if you decide to join in, be prepared for showers......And we should never be far from the cars.

Meeting time and place: 8 am at the ocean front parking lot on the south side of Indian River Inlet.

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MON about 5 pm: Our Sussex Bird Club field trip to Assawoman Wildlife Management Area is a go IF only showers are forecast (as they are right now). If today's heavy rain continues, and is forecast for Tuesday morning as well, the trip will be cancelled.

So check this blog after 6 am tomorrow (Tuesday) for the final assessment of whether the field trip is a GO or a NO GO.

My latest NOAA forecast for Assawoman is:

Tuesday

A chance of showers. Cloudy, with a high near 78. East wind 6 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

New Zealand SBC program 10-9-16

New Zealand, Mythical Land in the Southern Hemisphere

October 9, 2016

Bill and Sally Fintel

No-where else I know of can one find snow capped alps, Kiwis, Albatross in abundance, some of the largest Sperm Whales in the world, and some of the friendliest people in the world. Plus lets not forget superb wines and terrific fishing. Yes, Sally and I are considering retiring there.

This presentation will highlight our visit to New Zealand in March 2016 accompanied by 3 very close friends. Photography will be the main emphasis, but some of the history and uniqueness of New Zealand will also be covered. For instance, the largest raptor that ever lived, lived in New Zealand, and fed on the tallest bird that ever lived, the Moa.  New Zealand was part of the southern hemisphere super continent Gondwana and separated from it early in the evolution of life on Earth, so it became a truly unique island in terms of species that evolved on it…..like Kiwis.

Founders of the Sussex Bird Club

This title may become a series, but for now, I just want to honor Alex Summers. He called me back in about 1980, and said "Hey why don't we do a Christmas Bird Count here in the Seaford area?" So we did...unofficially in 1981, and it became part of the Audubon Christmas Bird Counts in 1982 until present. And the Sussex Bird Club was formed in 1982, with first President Bill Fintel.

But now back to the inspirational Alex Summers. He was an expert birder and also a Hosta expert supreme. He passed on over a decade ago, but his many friends and close family have maintained a wonderful web site in his memory. You can view it here at Honeysong Farm.

I have just lost a very close fishing friend, and realize that after 70, our years are limited, but still to be enjoyed, and shared with others as best we can. Below is a relational memory of Alex, Sally and me.

Osher Lewes-Rehoboth Canal Cruise May 25, 2016

We have a full boat, and the weather forecast is excellent!!!

The Cape Water Taxi leaves from a dock on the west end of the Fisherman's Wharf complex. Parking very close to the dock is limited, but there should be ample parking fairly close.

The boat is covered, but sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat are still recommended. It is also suggested that you bring a beverage, a snack, and binoculars (if you have them).

Below is a pic from our last  cruise that went up the Broadkill River in 2012. This year's cruise will be on a larger vessel, The Discovery, and it does have a restroom.

We are looking forward to a fun and relaxing cruise with all.

Best,
Bill and Sally

Shorebirds Observed on May 18 Osher Field Trip to Mispillion Inlet

Our group of twelve today observed our target bird, the Red Knot, as well as 10 other species of shorebirds, plus delightful views of a Clapper Rail and singing Seaside Sparrow. The shorebirds we observed (in taxonomic order) included: Black-bellied Plover, Killdeer, American Oystercatcher, Spotted Sandpiper, Willet, Ruddy Turnstone, Red Knot, Sanderling, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Dunlin and Short-billed Dowithcher.

If you add to this the 7 species of shorebirds we saw on other Osher field trips this spring, we had a very respectable total of 18 species of shorebirds for our spring class. The additional 7 species includes: Semipalmated Plover, Piping Plover, Black-necked Stilt, American Avocet, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, and Least Sandpiper.

6 am UPDATE - Wed, May 11 Osher Field Trip

We are a GO.....Radar shows most of the short term rain will be south of us, and the next rain to approach the Milton area, where we will be, is about 5 hours away. Take a look at the Sterling radar loop  from 5:45 am (and refresh for latest loop). Showers are possible, so bring light rain gear, and as I said, we can do a lot from the cars........and we will have a walkie talkie for each car.  Meeting time and location: Prime Hook HQ parking lot at 8 am.


Tue 5 pm: My latest analysis of the NOAA forecast for tomorrow morning indicates our Osher field trip should be a "go"............BUT as you know, the weather has zero allegiance to NOAA forecasts. So please check this blog just after 6 am tomorrow, in case there is a major change in the forecast during our planned field trip from 8 to 11 am.

And for a few more details on where we plan to go....We plan to take you to new good birding areas that are not well known. We can do a great deal of this in cars without rain creating a problem. Three areas we will definitely visit include The Nature Conservancy's 2 preserves of McCabe and Ponder's, plus the Delaware Wildlife Management Area on Little Neck Rd just off Prime Hook Rd. All 3 are great woodland habitats, and woodland migrants are now coming through in excellent numbers.

GOP Politics...by the Birds

As usual....BUT this is a birding blog. So catch the warblers as they arrive in the next 2 weeks.